SNES Powerpak is now available

[Mitch]

Quick question: If I want to set up a save directory in a folder, do I just copy the 8KBsave.srm file a few times and rename it?
Something like:
FF3save.srm
SMWsave.srm
WHATEVERGAMEsave.srm

Yes, that is probably the best way to do it and is how I have mine set up.
Just make sure to load the game save on the game load screen and when you're done hold down the reset button for five seconds and choose yes when it ask if you want to save. Then select the same save file you loaded from and you should be good.

Mitch

[Great Hierophant]

So I've found some games that I think have incompatibility issues.

Can anyone confirm that these won't work (they don't work on my Powerpak):

1.Jeoparady! (Doesn't work me either. But I have the cartridge.)
2.Family Feud (Made by the same makers of Jeoparady, so I'll have to get the cartridge.)
3.WWF Raw
4. Sanrio World Smash Ball

I've found some more that do not work, but I do not remember what they were.

What are the CRCs for your problem ROMs?

I tested out Family Feud and it would make it to the title screen but wouldn't accept input and there was no sound. Hitting reset fixed it.
I decided to try this with Jeopardy and it fixed the corrupt graphics issue I was having.

WWF Raw worked fine for me with no errors.

Sanrio World Smash Ball I could not get to work. The english translation one would crash with an error code. The original Japanese one would load to a black screen and hang, which seems to be the same issue you are having.

Mitch

I have two full-sized NTSC/60Hz SNES consoles. One has a CPU v.2/PPU1 v.1/PPU2 v.2 and the second has CPU v.2/PPU1 v.1/PPU2 v.3. The PPU v.3 console has a sticker just below the Power button. On the earlier, PPU v.2 console, I experienced the graphical glitches in Jeopardy and lack of sound and input in Family Feud. Hitting reset caused those problems to go away. In the Later, PPU v.3 console, Family Feud and WWF Raw would not load and Jeopardy would not get past the Gametek logo, when it even got that far at all.

I have had varying success with fixes and hacks. Terranigma (E) [f1] works fine. Super Noah's Ark 3D (U) [h1C] works when Super Noah's Ark 3D (U) [!]. If NSRT, ZSNES or SNES9x report the ROM as bad, good luck getting anything working.

[Great Hierophant]

By the way, does anyone use a program to properly sort files on their PowerPaks? They do not sort files in alphabetical order, which is extremely annoying if you have to copy files or modify directories. I believe they sort files by last modified.

[akgameboy]

I have two full-sized NTSC/60Hz SNES consoles. One has a CPU v.2/PPU1 v.1/PPU2 v.2 and the second has CPU v.2/PPU1 v.1/PPU2 v.3. The PPU v.3 console has a sticker just below the Power button. On the earlier, PPU v.2 console, I experienced the graphical glitches in Jeopardy and lack of sound and input in Family Feud. Hitting reset caused those problems to go away. In the Later, PPU v.3 console, Family Feud and WWF Raw would not load and Jeopardy would not get past the Gametek logo, when it even got that far at all.

I have had varying success with fixes and hacks. Terranigma (E) [f1] works fine. Super Noah's Ark 3D (U) [h1C] works when Super Noah's Ark 3D (U) [!]. If NSRT, ZSNES or SNES9x report the ROM as bad, good luck getting anything working.

My system also has a sticker just below the Power switch. So I guess the model of the SNES is the problem.

I use this for my Powerpak and everything is always in nice, alphabetical order: http://www.anerty.net/software/file/DriveSort.php
I sort the files by their Long Name.

[jeffg]

after i got mine back from Bunnyboy the first time it works great now. I have about 250 games loaded and have played a bunch:
Terranigma hacked for US
Star Ocean decompressed
Secret of Mana 2
Live a Live translated
all the good US games except the known issue ones.

the problem i ran into is the save feature isn't working for Star Ocean, i hold reset for 5 seconds on that one and it just resets the game instead

[pseudonym]

Star Ocean works? Is there a list of games that don't work with the powerpak yet?

Thanks.

[jeffg]

you have to get the special decompressed version of star ocean for it to work. It and Secret of Mana 2 does not work on an FC Twin but they work fine on my model #2 snes

[Leo_A]

Star Ocean works? Is there a list of games that don't work with the powerpak yet?

Thanks.

Check out their site, it covers your questions and much more. Although it does appear there might be a few more games that are giving problems than on their list (Jeopardy for example).

I suspect many of the issues will be ironed out in the coming months, but the list on their site is definitive when it comes to the games that have no possibility of working on this device due to utilizing enhancement chips not included on this cartridge.

http://www.retrousb.com/product_info...products_id=84

[Mitch]

I have two full-sized NTSC/60Hz SNES consoles. One has a CPU v.2/PPU1 v.1/PPU2 v.2 and the second has CPU v.2/PPU1 v.1/PPU2 v.3. The PPU v.3 console has a sticker just below the Power button. On the earlier, PPU v.2 console, I experienced the graphical glitches in Jeopardy and lack of sound and input in Family Feud. Hitting reset caused those problems to go away. In the Later, PPU v.3 console, Family Feud and WWF Raw would not load and Jeopardy would not get past the Gametek logo, when it even got that far at all.

I have had varying success with fixes and hacks. Terranigma (E) [f1] works fine. Super Noah's Ark 3D (U) [h1C] works when Super Noah's Ark 3D (U) [!]. If NSRT, ZSNES or SNES9x report the ROM as bad, good luck getting anything working.

Interesting, I just checked my SNES and it is a 2/1/3, no sticker by the power switch though. I borrowed my brother's SNES which is a 1/1/1 and WWF Raw would not load but Family Feud and Jeopardy are fine with a reset. Looks like there is varied compatibility depending on your console revision.
My SNES jr is also a 2/1/3 and it doesn't work at all. I guess there's a reason the jr's are listed as incompatible on the RetroZOne site.

Mitch

[Great Hierophant]

Interesting, I just checked my SNES and it is a 2/1/3, no sticker by the power switch though. I borrowed my brother's SNES which is a 1/1/1 and WWF Raw would not load but Family Feud and Jeopardy are fine with a reset. Looks like there is varied compatibility depending on your console revision.
My SNES jr is also a 2/1/3 and it doesn't work at all. I guess there's a reason the jr's are listed as incompatible on the RetroZOne site.

Mitch

So it would seem that 2/1/2 is perhaps the most compatible with the PowerPak at the moment.

I am inclined to think that the SNES jr. supplies less power to the cartridge slot than the PowerPak needs, making it not work.

[Mitch]

So it would seem that 2/1/2 is perhaps the most compatible with the PowerPak at the moment.

I am inclined to think that the SNES jr. supplies less power to the cartridge slot than the PowerPak needs, making it not work.

Maybe, though my 2/1/3 seems to be pretty compatible.

Does anyone know how many revs of each chip there were? From the discussions on this board It seems like: two CPU revs, one ppu1 rev and three ppu2 revs.

Maybe I should try scoping the cart slots on each of my SNES's and see how much power is getting there. Though it seems a bit odd that they would drop it.

Mitch

[jupitersj]

Temporarily Unavailable

[Greg2600]

So it would seem that 2/1/2 is perhaps the most compatible with the PowerPak at the moment.

I am inclined to think that the SNES jr. supplies less power to the cartridge slot than the PowerPak needs, making it not work.

That's good to hear, 2/1/2 is what I have. I got it in 1992.

[Nature Boy]

Temporarily Unavailable

Rats. I actually put my order in last Thursday, and it still says "processing," but I haven't received word as to whether I'll get it or not.

I'll keep my fingers crossed!

[MachineGex]

Yes, that is probably the best way to do it and is how I have mine set up.
Just make sure to load the game save on the game load screen and when you're done hold down the reset button for five seconds and choose yes when it ask if you want to save. Then select the same save file you loaded from and you should be good.

Mitch

Thanks Mitch-
Now all I need is a list of games that need a save file so I can go in and set them up before I play.

[Mitch]

Thanks Mitch-
Now all I need is a list of games that need a save file so I can go in and set them up before I play.

I didn't bother naming them ahead of time. I just called the unused ones Save1, Save2, Save3, etc.. After I used one, I then renamed it to match the game name.

Mitch